Dr. Michael Ruchim is a specialist in adult gastroenterology. He works in Chicago, IL. Dr. Ruchim attended the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago for medical school and subsequently trained at a hospital affiliated with the University of Illinois for residency. His areas of expertise include the following: colon cancer, crohn's disease, and pancreatitis. Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Coventry, and United Healthcare Plans are among the insurance carriers that Dr. Ruchim takes. He has received professional recognition including the following: Chicago Super Doctors. His professional affiliations include Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Dr. Ruchim has an open panel.

Dr. Laura Yun is a gastroenterologist. She attended Indiana University School of Medicine and subsequently trained at Boston Medical Center for residency. Dr. Yun's clinical interests encompass crohn's disease, women's health issues, and ulcerative colitis. She honors several insurance carriers, including Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Coventry, and TRICARE. Her professional affiliations include Northwestern Medical Group (NMG), Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

Dr. Thirumazhisai Gunasekaran's areas of specialization are pediatric gastroenterology and general pediatrics; he sees patients in Park Ridge, IL, Oakbrook Terrace, IL, and Maywood, IL. He is a graduate of Madras Medical College. His residency was performed at Government General Hospital and a hospital affiliated with the University of British Columbia. Clinical interests for Dr. Gunasekaran include heartburn, crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis. He honors several insurance carriers, including Aetna EPO, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Coventry. He has received the following distinction: Chicago Super Doctors. Dr. Gunasekaran speaks Tamil. He is professionally affiliated with the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System (UI Health), Alexian Brothers Medical Center, and Loyola Outpatient Center (LOC).

Dr. Michael McGee practices general surgery and colon & rectal surgery in Chicago, IL. Clinical interests for Dr. McGee include rectal cancer, colon cancer, and anal cancer. He is in-network for several insurance carriers, including Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Coventry, and TRICARE. After attending Drexel University College of Medicine for medical school, he completed his residency training at a hospital affiliated with Case Western Reserve University. His hospital/clinic affiliations include Northwestern Medical Group (NMG), Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. New patients are welcome to contact his office for an appointment.

Dr. Theodore Saclarides specializes in colon & rectal surgery and practices in Chicago, IL, Park Ridge, IL, and Melrose Park, IL. His patients gave him an average rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars. These areas are among his clinical interests: diverticular disease, rectal cancer, and colon cancer. Dr. Saclarides is professionally affiliated with Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center and Loyola Outpatient Center (LOC). Dr. Saclarides is in-network for Humana HMO, Humana Bronze, and Humana Catastrophic, in addition to other insurance carriers. Before completing his residency at Rush University Medical Center, Dr. Saclarides attended medical school at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine. He has received the distinction of Chicago Super Doctors.

Dr. Amir Kagalwalla sees patients in Chicago, IL, Westchester, IL, and Arlington Heights, IL. His medical specialty is pediatric gastroenterology. These areas are among his clinical interests: heartburn, crohn's disease, and gallbladder problems. He is professionally affiliated with Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital, Cook County Health & Hospitals System, and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Dr. Kagalwalla is in-network for Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO, United Healthcare Plans, United Healthcare EPO, and more. New patients are welcome to contact his office for an appointment. Dr. Kagalwalla attended Grant Medical College and then went on to complete his residency at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Children's Hospital of Michigan, and the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics.

Dr. Anne-Marie Boller practices general surgery and colon & rectal surgery in Chicago, IL. The average patient rating for Dr. Boller is 3.0 stars out of 5. Dr. Boller's areas of expertise include rectal cancer, colon cancer, and crohn's disease. Her professional affiliations include Northwestern Medical Group (NMG), Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Dr. Boller is an in-network provider for Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Coventry, and TRICARE, in addition to other insurance carriers. New patients are welcome to contact her office for an appointment. After attending the University of Minnesota Medical School, she completed her residency training at Hennepin County Medical Center.

Dr. Thomas Nealis practices adult gastroenterology in Chicago, IL. Clinical interests for Dr. Nealis include gastrointestinal bleeding, colon cancer, and crohn's disease. His professional affiliations include Northwestern Medical Group (NMG), Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He is a graduate of Georgetown University School of Medicine. He trained at Northwestern Memorial Hospital for residency. Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Coventry, and TRICARE are among the insurance carriers that Dr. Nealis honors. Dr. Nealis is open to new patients.

Dr. Adam Stein's specialty is adult gastroenterology. His areas of expertise include the following: crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Coventry, and TRICARE are among the insurance carriers that Dr. Stein honors. Before completing his residency at the University of Chicago Medical Center, Dr. Stein attended medical school at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago. Dr. Stein's professional affiliations include Northwestern Medical Group (NMG), Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He is accepting new patients.

Dr. Michael Williams works as an adult gastroenterologist in Chicago, IL. Dr. Williams attended medical school at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine. For his professional training, Dr. Williams completed a residency program at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Clinical interests for Dr. Williams include esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), peptic ulcer, and colon cancer. Patient ratings for Dr. Williams average 5.0 stars out of 5. He takes several insurance carriers, including Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Coventry, and TRICARE. He is affiliated with Northwestern Medical Group (NMG) and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He is open to new patients.

Dr. Amy Halverson specializes in general surgery and colon & rectal surgery and practices in Chicago, IL. Her clinical interests include rectal cancer, colon cancer, and anal cancer. She is affiliated with Northwestern Medical Group (NMG), Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Before completing her residency at George Washington University Medical Center, Dr. Halverson attended medical school at Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons. Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Coventry, and TRICARE are among the insurance carriers that Dr. Halverson honors. She has received the distinction of Chicago Super Doctors. She welcomes new patients.

Dr. Emanuelle Bellaguarda is a specialist in adult gastroenterology. In Dr. Bellaguarda's practice, she is particularly interested in crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Her professional affiliations include Northwestern Medical Group (NMG), Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Her training includes a residency program at Boston Medical Center. Dr. Bellaguarda honors several insurance carriers, including Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Coventry, and TRICARE. She has an open panel.

Dr. Christian Stevoff works as an adult gastroenterologist. Dr. Stevoff graduated from Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine and then he performed his residency at a hospital affiliated with the University of Minnesota. These areas are among his clinical interests: crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and rectal problems. He honors Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Coventry, and TRICARE, in addition to other insurance carriers. His professional affiliations include Northwestern Medical Group (NMG), Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He has an open panel.

Dr. Robin Fintel is a specialist in adult gastroenterology. These areas are among Dr. Fintel's clinical interests: diarrhea, crohn's disease, and gallbladder problems. Her hospital/clinic affiliations include Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Her education and training includes medical school at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and residency at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center and Sinai Hospital of Baltimore. The average patient rating for Dr. Fintel is 2.0 stars out of 5. Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Coventry, and United Healthcare Plans are among the insurance carriers that Dr. Fintel honors. Dr. Fintel is accepting new patients.

Dr. Thomas Lee is a medical specialist in adult gastroenterology. Clinical interests for Dr. Lee include crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and colorectal cancer screening. He is professionally affiliated with Northwestern Medical Group (NMG), Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Dr. Lee attended Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and subsequently trained at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, the University Hospitals, Cleveland, and a hospital affiliated with Weill Cornell Medical College for residency. Patient ratings for Dr. Lee average 3.0 stars out of 5. He takes Humana HMO, Humana Bronze, and Humana Catastrophic, as well as other insurance carriers. He welcomes new patients.

Dr. Niraj Ajmere's specialty is adult gastroenterology. Patient reviews placed him at an average of 3.5 stars out of 5. Areas of expertise for Dr. Ajmere include heartburn, pancreas problems, and colon cancer. Dr. Ajmere's professional affiliations include Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital, Delnor Hospital, and DuPage Medical Group (DMG). He takes Humana HMO, Humana Bronze, Humana Catastrophic, and more. He is open to new patients. Dr. Ajmere attended the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago for medical school and subsequently trained at McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University for residency.

A gastroenterologist is a doctor that specializes in the normal function and diseases of the digestive tract, which includes the stomach, intestines, spleen, pancreas, and liver. As a specialty, gastroenterology is the study of how food moves through the body, how nutrients are absorbed by the body, and how waste is removed by the body. A few of the conditions that a gastroenterologist might treat are:

gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD (stomach acid flows back into the throat and causes a burning sensation and tissue damage)

One unique trait that really sets gastroenterologists apart is their training and skill with endoscopy, a procedure where tiny flexible tubes are inserted into the body. These tubes are equipped with lights and cameras to provide the practitioner with a close, inside look at what is going on inside the patient’s body. Tools can even be inserted through the tubes to perform certain procedures, such as removing polyps or cancers, stretching open passageways that have narrowed, or applying lasers to stop bleeding.

Gastroenterologists do not perform surgery, but they do perform endoscopic procedures, as well as biopsies to determine if cancer is affecting the digestive tract. Although other physicians can use endoscopes, gastroenterologists devote a significant portion of their medical training and practice to endoscopy. They learn how and when to use endoscopy, the safest and most efficient methods to use, and how to interpret what they see through the endoscope.

Colon and rectal surgery is the medical specialty that deals with diseases and disorders of the lower intestinal tract, colon, rectum, and anus. The specialty was previously known as proctology, and some physicians who specifically treat diseases of the rectum and anus may still call themselves proctologists; but in general that term is not currently used. While colon and rectal surgery is related to gastroenterology, only colon and rectal surgeons can provide surgical care.

Colon and rectal surgeons can offer routine screenings for common health conditions affecting the colon and rectum. They have also undergone advanced surgical training, and they are able to treat conditions affecting the lower intestinal tract with surgery when needed.

Some conditions that a colon and rectal surgeon might treat include:

Serious and chronic constipation

Hemorrhoids

Anal fissures, or tears in the skin around the anus

Anal abscesses and fistulae

Anal incontinence

Intestinal polyps

Colon and rectal cancer

Colon and rectal surgeons perform various procedures to keep patients healthy, such as colonoscopies and sigmoidoscopies. These tests use long, flexible tubes to examine the lining of the colon in case of pain or bleeding, or to look for signs of cancer or polyps. If a patient’s intestines are severely diseased and not working well, a colon and rectal surgeon may perform an ostomy, where the healthy part of the intestines are connected to a tube or pouch on the outside of the body. Colorectal surgeons may also remove hemorrhoids, perform laparoscopic surgery on a tumor, or even offer genetic counseling to patients with a family history of colorectal cancers.

Colon and rectal conditions can be some of the most uncomfortable problems to endure. Even if your intestinal problem is severe, colon and rectal surgeons can help you lead a long, healthy, and more enjoyable life.

The digestive system is how our bodies convert food into energy. It is made up of the liver, pancreas, gallbladder, esophagus, stomach, and intestines. Physicians who treat problems in a child’s digestive system, especially diseases of the liver, are called pediatric gastroenterologists.

Children are not just smaller versions of adult patients. Their digestive systems are different, and they may not be as able to describe their symptoms and concerns to a doctor. More importantly, a disease that interferes with the ability to obtain adequate nutrition can be much more serious for children, with their growing bodies, than it is for adults.

Pediatric gastroenterologists use tools such as biopsy (taking a small sample of tissue to examine under a microscope), endoscopy (examining the inside of the digestive tract using a thin, flexible tube), or colonoscopy (examining the lower intestines using a thin, flexible tube). Some of the disorders they encounter include:

Bleeding in the digestive tract

Liver disease and transplants

Hepatitis, an infection of the liver

Irritable bowel disease

Severe heartburn, called GERD

Pancreatitis

Gallstones

Lactose intolerance and severe food allergies

Severe, chronic, or unexplained abdominal pain, vomiting, or diarrhea

Nutritional disorders, including failure to thrive (FTT) and malnutrition

Feeding disorders, including refusal of food, gagging, and trouble swallowing

With such a wide variety of disorders, treatments are also varied. Some include nutrition management plans, medications, or feeding tubes.

Pediatric gastroenterologists play an important role in helping kids comfortably eat and digest food so they can grow up healthy.

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What is Crohn's Disease?

Crohn’s disease is an autoimmune illness that results in chronic inflammation of the digestive system. It is one of a similar group of conditions called inflammatory bowel disease. The most common symptoms of Crohn’s are abdominal pain and diarrhea.

Crohn’s can be difficult to distinguish from another type of inflammatory bowel disease called ulcerative colitis. The symptoms are almost identical, but the way they affect the digestive tract is different. While technically Crohn’s can be present anywhere in the digestive tract, it is most commonly found in the small intestine. In contrast, ulcerative colitis is only found in the colon. Crohn’s disease affects the entire wall of the intestine, while ulcerative colitis affects only the lining. Finally, the inflammation caused by Crohn’s is patchy, but the inflammation due to ulcerative colitis is continuous.

Symptoms of Crohn’s include:

Abdominal pain and cramping

Diarrhea, sometimes alternating with constipation

Rectal bleeding

A sense of urgency about going to the bathroom

Feeling like you keep needing use the bathroom, even after you have already done so

General symptoms of illness, such as fever, weight loss, and fatigue

The symptoms of Crohn’s tend to cycle. They may be very strong for periods of time, called ‘flares,’ and they may go away for periods of time, known as remission.

There are several treatment options for Crohn’s, and what works for one person may not work for another. There is no cure for Crohn’s disease, but treatments can help make symptoms less severe and more manageable. Options include: